Construction of button sewing machines



Oct. 10, 1939. J. BRUSSELL' CONSTBUCTIQN OF BUTTON SEWING IACQINES Filed Nov. 2, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. .dACOB BRUSSELL BY ATTORNEY.

Oct. 10, 1939. .1. BRUSSELL CONSTRUCTION OF BUTTON SEWING MACHINES I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1937 ll r I I ll m m Mu m w B B w M 7 M 5 n: xi w 7 f l I F 7 .w%

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 10, 1939. J. BRUSSELL CONSTRUCTION OF BUTTON SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 2, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENT OR. #605 EEK/9511 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Jacob Brussell, New York, N. Y. v

Application November 2, 1937, Serial No. 172,328

14 Claims. (01. 112-110) This invention is directed to sewing machines, more particularly to machines adapted to sew buttons on fabric.

In my copending application, Ser. No. 157,308,

6 filed August 4, 1937, and entitled Button sewing machines, I have described a mechanism for the sewing of buttons having two or four holes. One of the mechanisms there described utilized a single needle which was adapted to form stitches alternately through a pair of holes in a button. After a predetermined number of stitches was made, a mechanism came into action which shifted the needle, and it continued the making of stitches in the second pair of holes in the button. After the completion thereof, the machine was automatically stopped.

In the operation of the aforesaid button sewing machine, when the needle changed over from one pair of holes to the next pair of holes, a thread bridged the space between said pairs of holes. This is undesirable to the trade, which requires for the best work that there be no such thread visible. Accordingly, the present invention has for one of its objects the provision of a device for sewing buttons on fabrics by the use of a single needle machine in which no thread passing from one set of holes to the other appears. It is also an object to utilize but'a single hook in which the time thereof is changed at will to correspond with the position of the needle, and also to provide a mechanism adapted to form chain or lock stitches.

In practicing my invention, I provide a button sewing machine having the usual stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needie and a rotating hook cooperating therewith, and the usual means for causing reciprocation of the needle and rotation of the hook. There is also provided, as more particularly described in the aforesaid copending application for patent, means for shifting the needle at predetermined intervals after a specified number of stitches has been made. This mechanism includes a shift bar which, by causing the operation of suitable mechanism, shifts the needle atthe desired intervals. In accordance with the present invention, I provide a hook on its shaft, but instead of a direct, connection between the same and the driving shaft, I have a loose connection with means which may be operated by the shift bar for changing the angular position of the hook. This shifting takes place practically at the same time as the shifting of the needle so that the hook is always in proper relation with the 'needle" I or, in other words, is in time.

In order to enable the hook to perform all of its "functions without any danger of the slipping of .a loop or of failure of the needle to lock into the previous stitch, the construction of the hook is modified so as to make its operation more cer- 6 tain, particularly when it is in its angularly displaced position.

I also provide amechanism for cutting the thread beneath the needle plate at the time of the shifting of the needle. This is accomplished 10 by mechanism operated simultaneously with the shifting of the needle, and'it includes a device for holding the thread taut while the thread cutters are moved, into cutting position.

In the accompanying drawings, constituting a 1 part hereof, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bed of a sewing machine showing the mechanism of the present invention beneath said plate and in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the mechanism taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, with the hook removed.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the hook, somewhat enlarged in order to show details of construction thereof. 7

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the hook in a position about 180 from the position of Fig. 4 showing how it holds a loop.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view from below of the needle plate.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the yoke cooperating with the needle plate and holding the movto able cutter members. v

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the bed of a sewing machine showing below the same a modified mechanism for cutting the thread.

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8 and,.Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a sewing machine embodying the present invention, some parts being broken away and some parts shown in section.

The bed I of the sewing machine is provided with a needle'plate 2 having a pair of aligned openings or needle holes 3 therein through which a needle 4 is adapted to operate. Said needle first reciprocates a predetermined number of times through one of the needle holes 3 and then is shifted into the other hole 3, and again makes a predetermined number of reciprocations.

There is provided a driving shaft 5, having' a gear 6, connected to a source of power, not shown. The opposite end I of the driving shaft terminates near the end 9 of the hook shaft 8, the shafts 5 and 8 being in longitudinal alignment. In the shaft 5 is a pin l8, and in shaft 8 'is a. similar pin ll. Asleeve l2- fits over the adjacent ends of shafts 5 and 8, said sleeve being being closely fitting but sufliciently loose to allow relative displacement of the said parts. At the rear of the sleeve I2 is a longitudinal slot l3 parallel to the shaft 5 and in which the pin i8 is held. On the other end of sleeve I2 is a diagonal slot l4 into which the pin I l fits. The hook shaft is held in a bearing [5 formed as part of the bed of the sewing machine and collars l6 adjacent to the ends of the bearing I5, and secured to shaft 8, hold the shaft in its proper position. A hook I! is fitted onto the end of shaft 8.

A shift bar I 8, which may be the bar which causes shifting of said needle or is operatively connected thereto, is provided with a pin I 8, holding arm 28, pivoted at 2| and having a lever arm 22 extending therefrom. The lever arm 22 is provided with a fork 23 having inwardly-extending blocks 24 operating in a groove 25 formed by a pair of collars 26 fixed on sleeve l2.

The operation of this portion of my mechanism is as follows:' At the time of the shifting of needle 4, the rod l8 moves downwardly, causing the arm 28 to move downwardly around the pivot 2|. At the same time, lever arm 22 is caused to shift to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, causing the fork 23 and blocks 24 to engage the right-hand collar 26 and shift the sleeve I2 to the right. By reason of the presence of the pin I8, the angular relation of driving shaft 5 remains the same. However, by reason of the angular position of slot l4, the pin ll causes shaft 8 to twist a predetermined amount relatively to shaft 5. This causes the hook I! to move angularly a predetermined distance so that in the new position of the needle the hook is again in fully operative position.

On the sleeve 12 is fixed a second sleeve 21 by means of set screw 28. In an annular recess in sleeve 21 is a movable collar 29 having an extension 38 through which passes a bolt 3| into rod 32, which extends towards the stitch-forming mechanism.

The hook I! comprises a base 33 having an extended portion 34 fitting into the end of hook shaft 8 and held rigidly in position. The body portion 35 of thehook terminates in the hook member or loop catcher '36. At the junction of the base 33 with the body 35 of the hook there is provided a relatively deep groove 31 into which the thread 39 or loop may slip and be held. An opening 38 is.provided in the body of the hook to allow free operation of the needle during the cycles.

The needle plate 2 is provided with stationary members 48 held on pins 4| and positioned in correspondingly-shaped recesses in the underneath side of the needle plate. The members 48 terminate in cutting surfaces 42 adjacent the needle holes 3. A pin 43 is provided at a point near said holes. A yoke 44 has a slot 45, the yoke resting against the underneath side of the needle plate and the pin 43 thereof, entering into,

slot 45. In one corner of yoke 44 is a slot 46 into which fits a pin 41 on theend ofrod 32. The yoke has a central opening, the ends 48 and 49 of which are formed in the arc of a circle to hold movable blades 58, said blades being mounted on pins 4| and cooperating with the stationary blades 42 to snip the thread.

n the rod 32 1s a member having a. pin in The opposite end of said arm is shifted, the sleeve I2 is also shifted, let us I say to the right, causing collar 28 to move in the same direction. This pulls rod 32, causing the pin 41 thereof, engaging in slot ,46, to pivot the yoke 44 about the center 43. This causes one of the movable blades 58 to come in contact with its cooperating stationary blade 42. However, just prior to this, the movement of the rod 32 causes member 5| to move to the right, oper-'- ating the angular member 52, which results in a movement of the right-hand end of bar 53 toward rod 32. This causes the end 54 thereof, containing the thread catchers 55 to move in the opposite direction, whereby a recess 55 thereof catches the loop and tightens it against the cutting edges of the lower blades 42 and 58, whereby the thread is out. After the cutting of the thread, the needle completes the shift from one pair of holes in the button to the other. Be-

cause the thread has been cut, the needle in its movement draws the thread out of a hole of the first pair of the button and into a hole of the second pair. As the needle now travels through the button and fabric, the end of the thread is pulled down through said latter hole and just below the surface of the button so that it is invisible. When the needle passes upwardly on its next stroke it leaves the severed end of thread within the work.

In Figures 8 and 9 is shown a slight modification of the invention, particularly as to the mechanism for cutting the thread. The end of rod 32 is Provided with a pin 56 which contacts with U-shaped end 51 of an angular lever arm pivoted to the bed of the sewing machine at 58.

The operation of this form of my invention is quite simple. At the time of shifting of the needle the rod 32 is shifted, causing the rack 63 to move and thus cause rotation of gear 64 and knife 65. At the same time, the thread catcher 55, not shown in Figures 8 and 9, catches and holds the thread tightly and thus enables the knife to cut the thread. The machine has the usual standard 66, arm 61 and head 68. The horizontal main shaft 68 is suitably connected to needle bar 18 for vertical reciprocation of the needle 4. The upper end of the needle bar operates in pivoted sleeve H. At the lower end it operates in sleeve I2 secured to lever 13 which is operated by the twisting movement of shaft 14, which, in turn, is moved by lever 15, held by connection 16 to vertical bar Tl, having a yoke 18 secured to the upper end thereof. A worm 18 on shaft 69 meshes with wheel 88 on cross shaft 8| embraced by the yoke. A cam 82 c'ooperates with pin 83 on yoke I8 to give vertical movement of bar 11 at predetermined intervals.

An arm 84 has a button clamp 85 pivoted therein and carrying button holder 85. The arm is a.

secured to slide 86 operated through links 81 and 08 by roller 89 engaged in cam 90, which is' secured to gear 9| meshing with gear 92 on shaft 69. Shift bar l8 constitutes a continuation of bar 11, whereby the hook 35 is shifted simultaneously with the needle 4.

While I have described my invention setting forth several specific embodiments thereof, my invention is not limited to the details shown and described herein. The various details set forth herein are intended to, illustrate the invention and not to limit it, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other specific forms of mechanisms may be devised to carry out the objects set forth herein. While the mechanism has been described for use in conjunction with a button sewing machine, the various movements are also adapted for other uses. My invention is to be broadly construed and not to be limited, except by the character of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a sewing machine having a reciprocating needle, a hook, means for causing said needle and hook to cooperate to form stitches, and means for causing shifting of said needle at predetermined intervals after a plurality of reciprocations thereof the improvement which includes a shift bar operatively connected to said needle, and means actuated by said bar for angularly shifting said hook at said predetermined intervals to maintain the cooperative relationship with said needle and a groove in the base of said hook to hold the thread open in one of the positions thereof, the top of said groove being below the centerline of the hook shaft when the hook is in its upper position.

2. In a sewing machine a needle plate having proximity to one or the other of said cutters.

3. In a sewing machine a needle plate having two. needle holes, a thread cutter mounted below said plate at each of said holes, an operating rod for said cutters, each of said cutters having a stationary blade and a movable blade, a yoke adapted to be rocked, said movable blades fitted into said yoke and operated thereby, a thread catcher and means for actuating the same to bring the thread into proximity to one or the other of said cutters.

4. In a sewing machine having a single needle, a needle plate, an opening therein, a stationary cutting blade disposed in said opening, a.movable blade in proximity thereto, a plate recessed in said needle plate and said movable blade secured thereto, means for moving the same atpredetermined intervals, and a thread catcher adapted to move simultaneously with said blade to hold the thread in position to be shipped.

5.In a button sewing machine having a reciprocating needle, a hook, means for causing said shifting said hook simultaneously with the lateral shifting of said needle, the plane of said hook shifting being at right angles to the direction of vibration of said button holder. whereby a second pair of holes are presented to said needle and the cooperative relationship of said needle and hook is maintained.

6. In a button sewing machine having a reciprocating needle, a hook, means for causing said needle and hook to cooperate to form stitches, a button holder adapted to be vibrated in a plane at right angles to the needle to present a pair of holes thereto, and means including a shift bar for causing lateral shifting of .said needle at predetermined intervals after a plurality of reciprocations thereof, the improvement which includes means actuated by said bar for angularly shifting said hook simultaneously with the lateral shifting of said needle,.the plane of said hook shifting being at right angles to the direction of vibration of said button holder, whereby a second pair of holes are presented to said needle and the cooperative relationship of said needle and hook is maintained, the movement of said hook being in the plane in which said needle is shifted.

7. In a button sewing machine having a reciprocating needle, a hook, means for causing said needle and hook to cooperate to form stitches, a button holder adapted to be vibrated in a plane at right angles to the needle to present a pair of holes thereto, and means including a shift bar for causing lateral shifting of said needle at predetermined intervals after a plurality of reciprocations thereof, the improvement which includes means actuated by said bar for angularly shifting said hook simultaneously with the lateral shifting of said needle, the plane of said hook shifting being at right angles to the direction of vibration of said button holder, said actuating means including a hook shaft, a power shaft in endwise alinement therewith, a driving sleeve covering said shafts, cooperating slots and pins in said sleeve and shafts causing relative angular displacement of said shafts by longitudinal shifting of said sleeve, whereby a second pair of holes are presented to said needle and the cooperative relationship of said needle and hook are main tained.

8. In a button sewing machine having a reciprocating needle, a hook, means for causing said needle and hook to cooperate to form stitches, a button holder adapted to be vibrated in a plane at right angles to the needle to present a pair of holes thereto, and means including a shift bar for causing lateral shifting of said needle at predetermined intervals after a plurality of reciprocations thereof, the improvement which includes means actuated by said bar for angularly shifting said h'ook simultaneously with the lateral shifting of said needle, the plane of saidhook shifting being at right angles to the direction of vibration of said button holder, whereby a second pair of holes are presented to said needle and the cooperative relationship of said needle and hook ismaintained, a thread cutter and means for actuating the same to cut the thread at the time of said shifting of said needle.

9. In a sewing machine having a reciprocating needle, a hook, means for causing said needleand hook to cooperate to form stitches, a thread cutter mounted in proximity to said needle, and means including a, shift bar for causinglateral shifting of said needle at predetermined intervals after a plurality of reciprocations thereof, the

improvement which includes means actuated by said bar for angularly shifting said hook simultaneously with the lateralshifting of said needle to maintain the cooperative relationship with said needle, said actuated means simultaneously moving said thread cutter. v

10. In a sewing machine a hook having a body and a base, a hook shaft, said base being secured to said shaft, a relatively deep groove at the. junction of said body and base portions, the plane of said groove being transverse to and intersecting the axis of said shaft, whereby a thread loop caught by said hook is adapted to slide into said groove.

11. In a sewing machine a hook having a body and a base, a hook shaft, said base being secured to said shaft, a relatively deep groove at the junction of said body and base portions, the plane of said groove being transverse to and intersecting the axis of said shaft, whereby a thread loop caught by said hook is adapted to slide into said groove, and an opening through the body of said hook adapted to have a needle pass into the same in one of the operative positions of said hook.

12. In a sewing machine, a hook having a body and a base, a hook shaft, said base being secured to said shaft, a relatively deep groove at the Junetion of said body and base portions, the plane of said groove being transverse to and intersecting the axis of said shaft, whereby a thread loop,

caught by said hook is adapted to slide into said groove, the bottoin of said groove being below the centerline of said shaft when the hook is in its loop seizing position.

13. In a sewing machine, a hook having a body and a base, a hook shaft, said base being secured to said shaft, a relatively deep'groove at the junction of said body and base portions the plane of said groove being transverse to and intersecting the axis of said shaft, whereby a thread loop caught by said hook is adapted to slide into said groove, the bottom of said groove being below the centerline of said shaft when the hook is in its loop seizing position, the bottom of said groove being convex.

14. In a sewing machine a needle plate having a needle opening, an operating bar mounted on the under side of said plate, means for shifting said bar at predetermined intervals, a rack mounted adjacent said bar and operatively secured thereto, a gear meshing with said rack, a rotatable disk cutter fixed to said gear in close proximity to said needle plate at said needle opening, whereby rotation of said cutter is adapted to sever a thread.

JACOB BRUSSELL. 

